Hyderabad: Following the state bifurcation, our leaders have made promises of building cities out of small towns in Seemandhra and Rayalaseema. Cities on the lines of Hyderabad, even better and more developed.
But in the mad race for development, we might be forgetting a few basics. If the city planning is not done properly, they might just collapse.
That’s why environmentalists are pressing on the need to make “Green Cities”. It’s also the theme of this year’s Earth Day (April 22).
What is a green city?
According to Purushotham Reddy, an environmentalist, “A green city is a place where every building, residential and commercial, is green. These buildings should be able to produce the energy they require, harvest rainwater, recycle and reuse waste water (through sewerage recycling plants) and dispose garbage in a proper manner (by segregating dry waste from wet).”
Is our city green?
While Purushotham points out that Hyderabad has received “green and clean city awards” in the past, it is far from being one.
He says, “Many buildings here have solar water-heating facilities but that’s how green we have got so far. It’s an insignificant number.”
But things have been looking up in Hyderabad since changes were made in the Andhra Pradesh Building Rules in 2006. C. Shekar Reddy, national president of Credai (Confederation Of Real Estate Developers Association Of India) explains, “More than 100 apartments already have rainwater harvesting facilities rightly in place. Developers, due to certain responsibilities and yes, competition, are incorporating green features in their new projects. Because the greener the building, more healthier, productive and comfortable are the occupants.”
While it’s quite difficult to redo all the existing building infrastructure, Credai is working on an alternate plan. Shekar adds, “We know that population in the main city is increasing day by day. So, we are trying to de-congest the city area and building gated communities and properties in the periphery. This way, we can provide customers with more open and green spaces.”
Not just residential buildings, commercial ones (1,000 sq. ft-plus) have been issued greener norms by the Indian Green Building Council. Farida Tampal, director, state office, World Wide Fund For Nature, points out a good trend: “Many houses in the city have bought compost pits to compost the household waste.”
heading for a catastrophe?
Purushotham, who is a former head of department of political science at Osmania University and has researched extensively about Hyderabad’s water problems, says, “Talking of sustainable cities, Hyderabad is heading towards a catastrophe. We have exhausted our groundwater; even trees don’t find water. Our lakes have dried up. Fortunately, we live in a dynamic society, so when we run out of water, the government will direct water from some river as it has done in the past.”
Environment and politics?
Sagar Dhara, environmental engineer and consultant for United Nations Environment Programme, says, “It’s not that politicians aren’t aware of what’s going wrong with our environment, but they are not going to speak up. Because they are selling dreams (of developed cities and infrastructure, which comes at the cost of environment. Cities are highly unsustainable.”
He adds, “While individual efforts are appreciated (to reduce their carbon foot-print), solving energy problems is essentially a global problem. It will require co-operation between countries. ”
